May 21, 2003	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 18,1424

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ISLAMABAD, May 20: The federal government has decided to immediately release Rs420 million for flood protection programme to the provinces so that they can complete their schemes on time.

Water and Power Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao told reporters after the 38th meeting of the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) here on Monday that re-appropriations had been made and these funds would be released within the next couple of days.

He said the meeting discussed in detail the preparations made by various agencies and provincial governments about the upcoming flood season as river flows were already higher than last year although snow melting had not yet started.

He said the embankments of the rivers constructed by the provinces were also reviewed, and the meeting expressed satisfaction about the flood forecasting and warning arrangements.

Wapda made a presentation on its gauging and telemetry system that was already in place at all major barrages and dams, and demanded Rs90 million for its operational expenditure in the provinces.

The flood protection arrangements to support civil agencies in case of floods made by the Pakistan Army were also spelled out at the meeting, Mr Sherpao said.

Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Jammat Ali Shah also briefed the meeting about the river flow data and flood warning information from India. He told the participants that he would be discussing future modalities with the Indian authorities during the forthcoming annual permanent Indus Commission meeting in New Delhi by the end of this month.

Mr Sherpao said the meeting decided that emergency funds should be made available to the FFC to meet any emergency situation but said it could not be decided as to how much funds should be earmarked for this purpose.

He said that a summary would be submitted to the cabinet for this purpose after proper consultation. He said that Rs500 million flood protection programme which had been held up for over a year for restructuring had now been reduced to Rs420 million that would be released immediately.

The meeting was informed that the conservation level of the Mangla Dam had been raised from 1,202 to 1,206 feet. The excess four feet water in the reservoir was not only utilized for more power generation but also used for irrigation purpose which gave a boost to the agriculture sector.